Pressure vessel

ABSTRACT

The door of a horizontally disposed pressure vessel is adjustably supported by a track mounted trolley for reciprocation between door closed and opened positions. The door is provided with apertures for freely receiving trolley mounted pins, which are employed to support an outer end of a material supporting carriage movable from within the pressure vessel as the door is moved towards its opened position. The apertures are sealed by flexible metal bellows. Independent movements of the carriage and door relative to the trolley permit the door to be properly seated in a closed condition under varying carriage loading and/or pressure vessel thermal distortion conditions.

United States Patent [191 Piegza [451 Apr. 16, 1974 PRESSURE VESSEL [75] Inventor:

[22] Filed: Nov. 18, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 200,048

Henry J. Piegza, Clarence, N.Y.

[52] U.S. Cl. 220/46 R, 74/18.2, 220/40 R, 285/24 [51] Int. Cl. B65d 87/06, F16] 15/50 [58] Field of Search 220/15, 40 R, 40 S, 46 R; 23/290; 21/66, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99; 219/44; 74/18.2; 285/24 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 228,217 5/1960 Australia 220/40 R Primary Examiner-George E. Lowrance Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Bean & Bean [5 7] ABSTRACT The door of a horizontally disposed pressure vessel is adjustably supported by a track mounted trolley for reciprocation between door closed and opened positions. The door is provided with apertures for freely receiving trolley mounted pins, which are employed to support an outer end of a material supporting carriage movable from within the pressure vessel as the door is moved towards its opened position. The apertures are sealed by flexible metal bellows. Independent movements of the carriage and door relative to the trolley permit the door to be properly seated in a closed condition under varying carriage loading and/or pressure vessel thermal distortion conditions.

6 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTEDAPR 15 1914 SHEEF 1 0f 3 I NVENT OR. HENRY .1 P/EGZA? QM m AT TORNEYS PATENTEDAPR 16 1974 SHEEE 2 0F 3 INVENTO HENRY J P/b'GZfl QQW ATTORNE Y PAIENTEDAPR 16 1914 3,804; 28 8 SHEET 3 UF 3 WMMMI" m I INVENTOR. 94 HENRYJ. P/E 6 102 52 @MM ffl m ATTORNEY PRESSURE VESSEL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Heretofore, it has been proposed to mount the door of a horizontally disposed pressure vessel on a track mounted trolley for reciprocating movements between door opened and closed positions; the door being employed to support one end of a material supporting carriage such that the carriage may be automatically withdrawn from the pressure vessel as the door is opened. While this arrangement is practical for small diameter doors, it has been found to be impractical for large diameter doors and heavy carriages, since door misalignment is encountered.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed towards an improved pressure vessel construction in which a pressure vessel door mounting trolley may be employed to automatically withdraw a material supporting carriage from the pressure vessel as the door is opened.

In accordance with the present invention, a pressure vessel door is adjustably supported by the trolley and is formed with a pair of apertures dimensioned to freely receive a pair of pin members; the pin members serving to support the outer end of the carriage on the trolley independently of the door. Each aperture is provided with a fluid pressure seal in the form of a flexible" metal bellows having opposite ends thereof fixed to the door and to the pins or trolley, respectively. By this arrangement, the door is free to move relative to both the carriage supporting pins and trolley as required to achieve proper seating of the door in closed position under varying carriage loading and pressure vessel thermal distortion conditions.

DRAWINGS The nature and mode of operation of the present invention will now be more fully described in the following detailed description taken with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. I is a perspective view of a pressure vessel embodying the present invention and illustrating the pressure vessel door-in fully open position; FIG. 2 is a fragmentary front elevational view showing the pressure vessel door and trolley;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken generally along line 33 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary rear elevational view of the pressure vessel door; and

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken generally along line 55 in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Reference is now made particularly to FIGS. 1 and 3, wherein a pressure vessel formed in accordance with the present invention is generally designated as 10. Vessel includes a horizontally disposed cylindrical shell 12 having an end access opening 14 bounded by an annular sealing surface 12a; a door 16 for closing opening 14 and having an annular sealing surface 16a engageable with surface 12a; a conventional rotary type locking ring mechanism 18 for releasably clamping sealing surface 16a in fluid pressure sealed engagement with sealing surface 12a after door 16 is moved into its closed position; a material supporting carriage 20 removably insertable into shell 12 through opening 14; and a trolley 22 for supporting door 16 and the outer end of carriage 20 for reciprocating movement between door opened and closed positions. Normally, the rear end of carriage 20 would be provided with wheel or roller supports 24, arranged to ride on rails 26 permanently fixed within shell 12, as best shown in FIG. 3. The specific construction of carriage 20 forms no part of the present invention and thus, may be of any desired construction.

The construction of locking ring mechanism 18 and its mode of operation by which adjacent parts (in this case shell 12 and door 16) may be releasably locked together in a fluid sealed relationship is well known, as evidenced by my prior U.S. Pat. No. 3,490,792. Thus, it is not deemed necessary to the understanding of the present invention to again describe mechanism 18 in detail.

Trolley 22 is shown in the drawings as including a horizontally disposed, generally U-shaped base portion 28, which is movably mounted on a pair of rails 30 by pairs of front and rear transport wheels 32 and 34, respectively; and a standard 36, which upstands from base portion 28 and serves to mount door 16 and the front end of carriage 20 thereon. Trolley 22 may be driven along rails 30 for the purpose of opening and closing door 16 by any suitable means, such as base portion mounted electric motor 38 coupled to one or both of front transport wheels 32 by a suitable transmission 40. A suitable limit switch or trolley proximity sensor, such as is designated at 42 in FIG. 3, may be employed to the deenergized motor 38 when door 16 has been moved to its closed position.

More specifically, standard 36 comprises a pair of facing, main U-shaped channel members 44, which upstand in a converging relationship from adjacent the front end of base portion 28; a plurality of carriage mounting angle irons 46, which are arranged to extend transversely between channel members 44 intermediate the upper and lower ends thereof; a pair of carriage positoning plates 48 fixed one to each of channel members 44 adjacent angle irons 46; door suspending angle irons 50, which extend transversely between upper ends of channel members 44; and a pair of bracing angle irons 52, which extend downwardly from adjacent the midpoints of channel members 44 for attachment to base portion 28 adjacent the rear end thereof.

Now referring particularly to FIG. 3, it will be seen that the front end of carriage 20 is cantilever supported on standard 36 by means of a pair of solid steel pins 54, which are freely received within a pair of apertures 56 arranged centrally of door 16. Specifically, the forwardly extending end of each of pins 54 is supported by and weld affixed to mounting angle irons 46 and one of plates 48, whereas the rear end of each pin passes through aligned apertures 58 of a box-shaped channel mounting fixture 60 fixed to the front end of carriage 20 by a pair of brackets 62. Pins 54 are clamped in place within apertures 58 by a pin mounted weldment 64 and by clamping plates 66, which are removably received within pin recesses 68 and bolt affixed to fixture 60.

As best shown in FIG. 3, each of door apertures 56 is fluid pressure sealed relative to its associated pin 54 by a flexible metal bellows device 70 having its rear end affixed to door 16 peripherally of aperture 56 and its front end affixed to pin 54 adjacent standard 36. Preferably, a relatively inextensible band 72 is placed about the mid-portion of each of bellows devices 70 in order to prevent excessive radial expansion thereof under high pressure conditions without decreasing its flexibility.

Door 16 is shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 as being mounted on standard 36 independently of pins 54 by a three point mounting or suspension, which includes an upper adjustable mounting or suspension device 80 fixed to channel members 50 and a pair of lower mounting devices 82 fixed one to each of bracing channel members 52. g

As best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, upper device includes a pin shaft 84, which is fixed to door mounted flange 86, such that its axis is essentially horizontally disposed and extends generally transversely the path of trolley reciprocation; and a pair of 2 standard mounted brackets 88, which are formed with aligned, horizontally elongated slots 90 for freely receiving opposite ends of pin shaft 84. A pair of threadably adjustable spring biased devices 92 are employed to normally bias pin shaft 84 towards the rear ends of slots 90, that is to the left as viewed in FIG. 3, while permitting rotations and forward movement of the pin shaft within the slots as required to insure proper seating of the door in its closed position.

Lower mounting devices 82, which accommodate for movements of pin shaft 84 within slots 90, are each in the form of a pair of loosely fitted telescopic sleeve members 94 and 96, which are fixed respectively to door 16 and a bracing channel mounted bracket 98. A coil type compression spring 100, which is arranged concentrically within members 94 and 96, may be subject to adjustments by a threaded bolt 102, which extends through bracket 98 and carries a spring bearing disc 104 adjacent its inwardly extending end.

Upon installation of a vessel incorporating the present invention, spring devices 92 are first adjusted to insure that pin 84 is maintained adjacent the rear ends of slots 90 when door 16 is in open position while permitting the pin to move forward and, if required, horizontally swing within the slots when the door is moved into closed. unlocked position by trolley 22; this forward movement being at least sufficient to thereafter permit the pin to be moved towards the rear end of the slots when the door is clamped by locking ring mechanism 18 in closed, fluid pressure sealed position. Lower mounting devices 82 are adjusted to tilt door 16 vertically and/or horizontally as required to insure that the annular sealing surface l6a of the door is properly disposed in alignment for proper seating with the annular sealing surface 12a of shell 12 when the door is moved into closed position. As will be apparent, by adjust ments of one or both of devices 82, the orientation of door 16 may be modified from time to time as neces sary to accommodate for vertical and/or horizontal displacements of the annular sealing surface 12a, which likely will occur during use, due to thermal distortions of the shell. Of course, the flexibility of bellows devices 70 permits universal and independent displacements of the door relative to pins 54, as well as standard 36. Such displacements additionally permit breathing, that is, in and out movements of the domed central section of the door as a result of being under vacuum or pressure conditions and/or as a result of thermally induced distortions.

in accordance with the preferred construction, variations in loadings on the carriage produce deflections of pins 54, rather than standard 36, and bellows device are sufficiently flexible to permit such deflections to occur without influencing the previously adjusted orientation of door 16. However, should deflections of standard 36 occur under high loading conditions, door 16 may be again properly positioned by adjustments of devices 82.

Of course, for installations where shell 12 would not be subject to thermal distortions and/or is constrained such that movements of sealing surface 12a is in some manner prevented, and all carriage loadinduced deflections are confined to the carriage mounting pins, the above-described adjustable door mounting arrangement may be dispensed with.

I claim:

1. A pressure vessel comprising in combination:

a horizontally disposed shell having an end access opening bounded by annular sealing surface means;

a door having annular sealing surface means engage able with said shell sealing surface means for closing said access opening and having at least one aperture extending therethrough;

a carriage for supporting material to be treated within said shell, said carriage being removably insertable into said shell. through said access opening;

a trolley supported for horizontal reciprocating movement relative to said access opening;

door mounting means and carriage mounting means for independently supporting said door and said carriage on said trolley;

said carriage mounting means cantilever supporting said carriage on said trolley and freely extending through said door aperture, whereby upon movement of said trolley, said carriage is removably inserted into said shell as said door is moved between access opening closed and open positions thereof; and

sealing means for providing a fluid pressure'seal between said door and said carriage mounting means while permitting relative movement therebetween.

2. A vessel according to claim 1, wherein said door mounting means is adjustable, whereby to permit adjustment of said door relative to said trolley and said carriage mounting means for positioning said door sealing surface means in alignment with said shell sealing surface means when said door is moved into said closed position thereof.

3. A vessel according to claim 1, wherein said door mounting means includes an upper mounting device for suspending said door from said trolley and a pair of lower mounting devices, said upper mounting device including a pin shaft and slot means and resilient means, said pin shaft having an essentially horizontally disposed axis extending essentially transversely of the path of trolley reciprocation, said slot means being horizontally elongated in a direction parallel to said path and serving to rotatably and slidably support said pin shaft therewithin, said resilient means tends to bias said pin shaft relatively towards one end of said slot means while permitting rotation and sliding movement of said pin shaft relatively towards an opposite end of said slot means, and said lower mounting devices being independently adjustable to effect rotary and/or sliding movements of said pin shaft within said slot means to position said door sealing surface means for alignment with said shell sealing surface means when said door is moved into said closed position thereof.

4. A vessel according to claim 3, wherein said lower mounting devices each comprise a pair of loosely fitted telescopic sleeve members fixed one to each of said door and trolley, a compression spring disposed within said sleeve members and bearing adjacent opposite ends thereof on said door and said trolley, and means to adjust said spring.

5. A pressure vessel according to claim I, wherein said trolley comprises a base having means for supporting said trolley for said horizontal reciprocating movement and a standard upstanding from said base, said carriage mounting means is fixed to said standard intermediate upper and lower portions thereof, and said door mounting means includes an upper mounting device for movably suspending said door from adjacent said upper portion of said standard and a pair of lower moutning devices movably connecting said door with said lower portion of said standard, said lower mounting devices being independently adjustable to produce vertical and horizontal tilting movements of said door relative to said trolley and said carriage mounting means. i

6. A vessel according to claim 1, wherein said door mounting means is adjustable to produce vertical and horizontal tilting movements of said door relative to said trolley and said carriage mounting means to position said door sealing surface means for alignment with said shell sealing surface means when said door is moved into said closed position thereof. 

1. A pressure vessel compriSing in combination: a horizontally disposed shell having an end access opening bounded by annular sealing surface means; a door having annular sealing surface means engageable with said shell sealing surface means for closing said access opening and having at least one aperture extending therethrough; a carriage for supporting material to be treated within said shell, said carriage being removably insertable into said shell through said access opening; a trolley supported for horizontal reciprocating movement relative to said access opening; door mounting means and carriage mounting means for independently supporting said door and said carriage on said trolley; said carriage mounting means cantilever supporting said carriage on said trolley and freely extending through said door aperture, whereby upon movement of said trolley, said carriage is removably inserted into said shell as said door is moved between access opening closed and open positions thereof; and sealing means for providing a fluid pressure seal between said door and said carriage mounting means while permitting relative movement therebetween.
 2. A vessel according to claim 1, wherein said door mounting means is adjustable, whereby to permit adjustment of said door relative to said trolley and said carriage mounting means for positioning said door sealing surface means in alignment with said shell sealing surface means when said door is moved into said closed position thereof.
 3. A vessel according to claim 1, wherein said door mounting means includes an upper mounting device for suspending said door from said trolley and a pair of lower mounting devices, said upper mounting device including a pin shaft and slot means and resilient means, said pin shaft having an essentially horizontally disposed axis extending essentially transversely of the path of trolley reciprocation, said slot means being horizontally elongated in a direction parallel to said path and serving to rotatably and slidably support said pin shaft therewithin, said resilient means tends to bias said pin shaft relatively towards one end of said slot means while permitting rotation and sliding movement of said pin shaft relatively towards an opposite end of said slot means, and said lower mounting devices being independently adjustable to effect rotary and/or sliding movements of said pin shaft within said slot means to position said door sealing surface means for alignment with said shell sealing surface means when said door is moved into said closed position thereof.
 4. A vessel according to claim 3, wherein said lower mounting devices each comprise a pair of loosely fitted telescopic sleeve members fixed one to each of said door and trolley, a compression spring disposed within said sleeve members and bearing adjacent opposite ends thereof on said door and said trolley, and means to adjust said spring.
 5. A pressure vessel according to claim 1, wherein said trolley comprises a base having means for supporting said trolley for said horizontal reciprocating movement and a standard upstanding from said base, said carriage mounting means is fixed to said standard intermediate upper and lower portions thereof, and said door mounting means includes an upper mounting device for movably suspending said door from adjacent said upper portion of said standard and a pair of lower moutning devices movably connecting said door with said lower portion of said standard, said lower mounting devices being independently adjustable to produce vertical and horizontal tilting movements of said door relative to said trolley and said carriage mounting means.
 6. A vessel according to claim 1, wherein said door mounting means is adjustable to produce vertical and horizontal tilting movements of said door relative to said trolley and said carriage mounting means to position said door sealing surface means for alignment with said shell sealing surface means when said door is moved into said closed position thereof. 